ACCESS Initiative targets inequities in cell therapy

NMDPSM and the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) are taking aim at inequities in patient access to treatment and treatment outcomes. Through the ASTCT-NMDP ACCESS Initiative, we’re bringing together stakeholders across the blood stem cell transplant and cell therapy space to drive sustained, meaningful change.

We need collaboration across the field to make a lasting impact. We invite hematology/oncology and transplant providers, researchers and policy leaders to work with us to expand access to life-saving treatment.

Join the ACCESS Initiative

Disrupting the status quo

Despite advances like partially matched donors that improve transplant success rates, disparities in access and outcomes persist. That’s why, in 2022, NMDP and ASTCT launched the ACCESS Initiative—to eliminate barriers to cell therapy. This bold initiative focuses on policy and clinical practice changes to drive impactful improvements across the transplant ecosystem. 
Erica Jensen smiling at the camera. She's a black woman who's wearing pink earrings and a blue shirt that ties at the neck.

This partnership between ASTCT and NMDP is important to break down barriers, connect people to innovative cell therapies and help save lives.

Erica jensen

ACCESS Initiative Co-Chair | Senior Vice President, Strategy and Advancement, NMDP

Expanding access to transplant and cell therapy

The ACCESS Initiative is dedicated to breaking down barriers to transplant and cell therapy for all patients, regardless of background or financial status. This initiative focuses on:

  • Addressing gaps in knowledge among hematology/oncology providers regarding current referral guidelines and patient support resources for transplant and cell therapy for transplant and cell therapy
  • Improving equitable access to transplant and cell therapies by addressing non-medical barriers and streamlining complex care pathways

Addressing these challenges requires coordination across hematology/oncology providers, transplant centers, researchers and policymakers—working together to remove barriers at every stage of care.

Increasing awareness of transplant and cell therapy

The Patient Awareness Committee focuses on increasing awareness of transplant and cell therapy options among hematologists/oncologists so patients can be referred earlier and more consistently—an essential step in expanding access to care and improving pathways to transplant for patients.

The committee also works to educate legislators about the barriers that affect access to care for all populations, helping ensure that evolving policies better support timely, equitable treatment.

Increasing patient access to transplant and cell therapy

The Patient Access Committee drives efforts to identify and address barriers that limit patient access to transplant and cell therapy. The committee fosters collaboration, shared learning and the exchange of tools and data. It brings together stakeholders to share data, test solutions and scale strategies that expand access by addressing non-medical barriers patients face.

For example, this committee conducted a nationwide survey of all 50 states that revealed significant gaps in Medicaid coverage for blood stem cell transplants and cell therapy. In response, NMDP and ASTCT are taking action by:

  • Developing clinical guidelines that state Medicaid offices can reference
  • Advocating for improved coverage in targeted states
  • Working with state programs to align with current medical standards

Read the full analysis published in the Transplantation and Cellular Therapy journal.

Dr. Eneida Nemecek smiling at the camera. She has shoulder-length brown hair and is wearing a navy blazer.

Solving these challenges requires more than one organization—it takes the entire community working together.

Eneida Nemecek, MD, MS, MBA

ACCESS Initiative Co-Chair | Professor, OHSU Knight Cancer Institute

Overcoming challenges through sustained engagement

The work has only begun—and overcoming these barriers will require active participation from across the transplant and cell therapy ecosystem to ensure that all patients can find a donor and access treatment.

This includes:

  • Transplant, cell therapy and hematology/oncology clinicians and institutions
  • Program administrators
  • Health policy and health equity experts
  • Health services researchers
  • Payer organizations
  • Federal and state stakeholders

The ACCESS Initiative is inviting stakeholders across the field to take part in this work—because expanding access will require all of us.

Help expand access to transplant and cell therapy

Expanding access to transplant and cell therapy depends on continued collaboration—and your perspective can help move this work forward. Whether you want to contribute directly or stay informed, there are two ways to get involved in the ACCESS Initiative.

Active member

You’ll engage directly in committee working sessions in bi-monthly meetings, contribute to tasks between meetings and play a hands-on role in delivering annual projects.

Informed member

You’ll get quarterly updates on developments and serve as an ambassador for disseminating our work.

Use the form below to become an active or informed member.

An ACCESS Initiative member will follow up with next steps. If you have questions about the ASTCT-NMDP ACCESS initiative, email accessinitiative@nmdp.org.

Choose your level of involvement